A home win at last! After two stages dominated by foreigners, Simon Spilak succeeded in bringing Slovenia's colors onto the "Dirka" podium in Saturday's third and penultimate stage of the event, going from Lenart to Krvavec over 174.7 kilometres. The Lampre youngster had - by far - the best climbing legs in the final ascent to the line. He powered away from a small front group with some 6 kilometres left ... and resistance proved futile.

Well, on the stage honors side of the matter at least, because if it's rumena majica (yellow jersey) we're talking about, then we must pay proper hommage to Jakob Fuglsang, the last rider to give up to Spilak's climbing power on the way to the finish, but also the fourth place getter in the stage, and notably the brave fighter still capable of maintaining the overall leader's mantle on his own shoulders.

Worthy of mention is also the third place finish scored by tiny Italian climber Domenico Pozzovivo, sandwiched in between Croatia's Matija Kvasina and the aforementioned GC leader from Denmark. Two well-known riders like Cioni and Voigt made today's top six spots complete.

"Today Spilak realized a great performance,"
Fabrizio Bontempi, sport director by Lampre-NGC, commented, "He
attacked with full force and, since the followers weren't active, he went on and
obtained this important victory."

Spilak is very satisfied: "It's beautiful
to win in my Country. The team supported me in a perfect way until the base of
the climb, then I pedaled very well".